Army Corps Of Engineers Closes All Regulatory Offices

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District today announced it has closed its seven regulatory offices in California, Utah, Nevada and Colorado due to the absence of available federal funding.

Regulatory offices will be unable to evaluate individual permit applications, pre-construction notifications for nationwide permit or regional general permit authorizations, or requests for jurisdictional determinations until after current year funding is received and the offices reopen.

During this closure, should an emergency activity need to be conducted in waters or wetlands that requires a Department of the Army authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, agencies may call 916-557-5100 or e-mail spk-pao@usace.army.mil.

Those applying for nationwide permit authorizations are reminded that proposed activities that require pre-construction notifications must wait 45 days before beginning the activity (see 33 CFR 330.1(e)). Please note that certain notifications require a written response from the Corps before beginning the activity. More nationwide permit information can be found at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/RegulatoryProgramandPermits/NationwidePermits.aspx.

Sacramento District regulatory offices will reopen when federal funding resumes. The Sacramento District will post current information on the status of regulatory offices at http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory.aspx.

Prospective applicants should ensure proposed activities comply with all NWP terms and conditions, including regional conditions. They must also obtain other required authorizations, such as Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification or waiver if the proposed activity involves a discharge into waters of the United States, or Coastal Zone Management Act consistency concurrence or waiver if the proposed activity occurs in the coastal zone, prior to conducting NWP activities.

Regional conditions that have been imposed on the 2012 NWPs are provided online at http://1.usa.gov/1gHDZhJ.

Through the regulatory program, the Corps administers and enforces Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Under RHA Section 10, a permit is required for work or structures in, over or under navigable waters of the United States. Under CWA Section 404, a permit is required for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.

The regulatory program is committed to protecting the nation’s aquatic resources, while allowing reasonable development through fair, flexible and balanced permit decisions. The Corps evaluates permit applications for essentially all construction activities that occur in the nation’s waters, including wetlands.